This is the best news I’ve heard all year. The satellite channel Sky One has commissioned two hour-long pilots of the classic BBC science fiction television series Blake’s 7. "The time is ripe for a revival of a show that represents the best traditions of the genre, not to mention one of the best-loved and most successful dramas of all time," said Elaine Pyke, commissioning editor for drama at Sky One, Two and Three.
Originally created by Terry Nation, the man responsible for the Daleks in Doctor Who, Blake’s 7 ran for four years between 1978 and 1981 and had a massive cult following.
Who can forget the cynical but charming computer wizard Avon (Paul Darrow), the boxed super computer Orac, and the cowardly safe cracker Villa (Michael Keating) who was pretty much scared of everything.
Blake’s 7 had it all: space adventure, cardboard sets, crazy costumes, and plenty of great science fiction moments.
Travelling on a ship called the Liberator, a diverse collection of characters, part freedom fighters, part outlaws, were on the run from the defacto rulers of the universe, the Earth based Federation, led by the ambitious Servalan (Jacqueline Pearce), the show’s femme fatale.
This is not the first time a Blake’s 7 revival has been on the cards for the small screen. Paul Darrow was set to make a new Blake’s 7 TV mini-series in 2003, but it never went ahead. However, a series of radio dramas featuring Colin Salmon and Daniela Nardini was broadcast on BBC7 last year.
If the pilots are successful, we could see a new Blake’s 7 television show as early as 2009.
Can’t wait!
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